Hosts South Africa suffered a blow to their Twenty20 world championship preparations Tuesday when big-hitting opening batsman Loots Bosman was ruled out of the tournament with a back injury.

The 30-year-old left-hander was injured when he crashed into an advertising hoarding while fielding during a match against neighbouring Zimbabwe last month, and doctors have recommended he rest for six weeks.

"It is with deep regret that we had to take this course," the president of Cricket South Africa, Norman Arendse, said in a statement.

"Loots has had a stand-alone record in this form of the game in South African cricket and he was desperately keen to play."